UN Chief Expresses Alarm Over Mogadishu Violence

UNITED NATIONS – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over reports of violence in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, his spokesperson announced on Thursday.

The Secretary-General appealed to all sides to maintain maximum restraint, avoid any actions that might provoke additional violence, and settle political disagreements through peaceful dialogue, according to spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in a statement to reporters.

Dujarric further stated that the UN leader emphasizes the immediate necessity for all involved parties to return to negotiations to find a solution that prevents undermining the progress achieved in Somalia so far and guarantees the safety of civilians and civilian facilities.

Warnings of 2021 Crisis Repeat Went Unheeded

The UN mission in Somalia and international partners had repeatedly cautioned through their statements and engagements about the potential of repeating the 2021 crisis stemming from disagreements on the electoral process, the note mentioned. These warnings “were unfortunately, obviously … not heeded,” the statement noted.

International partners including the UN, African Union, EU, IGAD, the United States, and the United Kingdom have consistently urged renewed dialogue between the Somali government and opposition groups. The diplomatic push followed the collapse of US and UK mediated talks earlier this month, which ended without a breakthrough on May 15, the same day President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s four-year term expired under the 2012 Provisional Constitution.

The 2021 crisis, which the UN statement referenced, saw Mogadishu endure confrontations between competing security forces loyal to former President Farmajo’s administration and opposition forces that included current President Mohamud as one of its most influential members. Those hostilities immobilized the city, traumatized its residents, and concluded only when international pressure and mutual exhaustion compelled a compromise that resulted in elections installing Mohamud in power.

UN Calls for Return to Negotiations

The UN body called upon all Somali leaders to put national interests first and restart the negotiations that concluded on May 15, with the note indicating that Somalia’s international partners are prepared to support such a dialogue.

Media reports indicate that supporters of opposition politicians and security forces continued their confrontations in Mogadishu on Thursday, following clashes that began the previous evening prior to a planned protest against the government. The fighting occurred in several areas of the capital, particularly around the Barmuuda neighborhood in the Hodan and Howlwadaag districts.

Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has accused opposition leaders of orchestrating an armed coup attempt, comparing opposition forces to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) without providing evidence. Opposition figures have dismissed these allegations, maintaining that their actions focus on protecting constitutional principles and transparent electoral procedures.

Constitutional Dispute at Heart of Crisis

The current crisis stems from a bitter dispute over constitutional amendments passed in March 2026, which extended the terms of both the president and parliament from four to five years. President Mohamud maintains he has an additional year in office under these amendments, while the opposition contends that his authority ended on May 15 under the 2012 Provisional Constitution.

Former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has warned that Mohamud is standing where his political downfall could begin. “Today, when he stands and says he has added another year to his term, I believe he is standing in the very place where his political downfall could begin,” Sharif stated.

The Puntland administration has also accused President Mohamud of unlawfully remaining in office following the expiration of his four-year term, which it said coincided with the end of the mandates for Somalia’s federal institutions.

International Pressure Intensifies

The United States and United Kingdom have both issued statements expressing alarm over the violence and calling for restraint. The U.S. Embassy warned that decisions taken in the coming hours and days could have long-term consequences for Somalia, while the UK called on all parties to maintain composure and participate in broad, constructive discussions.

The United States delivered one of its most explicit public statements against the use of force on political protesters in Somalia, with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Justin Davis stating that violence against peaceful demonstrators was “never acceptable” and calling on Somali political leaders to engage in dialogue and compromise.

Continued Fighting Reported

Despite international appeals for restraint, confrontations continued in Mogadishu on Thursday. Residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions in several districts, including the Abdiaziz, Howlwadaag, and Heliwaa areas. The violence has raised fears that Somalia could be sliding back toward the armed political confrontations that characterized the 2021 crisis.

The UN Secretary-General’s statement emphasized that the safety of civilians and civilian facilities must be guaranteed. No official casualty figures have been released by authorities, but medical sources indicated that wounded individuals had been admitted to local hospitals.

The current crisis has drawn direct comparisons to the 2021 Badbaado Qaran standoff, when opposition forces, including President Mohamud himself, organized against former President Farmajo’s attempt to extend his term without elections. The recurrence of similar dynamics has led many Somalis to question whether the country has learned any lessons from its recent political history.